Trestle Recreation Area: Mexican Trestle Trail

Cars were stopping by all night long to use the toilet, but the one CR-V plated from Alaska was the only other camper for the night.  I walked over to the couple after our breakfast to talk to them.  Sally, whose CR-V was parked on the premise, hails from Fairbanks, Alaska but now works in the oilfields outside of Odessa, TX.  She and her partner were in the area to look at a ranch to buy.  Before they took off for their real estate purchase, she dropped off her left-over campwood.  We ended up using that later this evening.

It was a tad warmer in the morning, a mere 44F, and I ended up drinking more of Holly's instant coffee.  Where did my Starbucks VIA packets go?  We again waited for Nina to awake and get started.  Once she was done with her boiled eggs and bacon, we were on our way to hike the 2.3-mile Mexican Trestle trail that I had done two months ago.  After we finished that trail, we did the 2.5-mile Osha Trail off US82.  Both are part of the Trestle Recreation Trail, a network of trails that once carried railroads to take away lumber off the mountains and both have unique features worth seeing.

We stopped briefly in town for coffee at the Black Bear coffee shop.  I had gotten there before the other two and missed the long line.  Right after I got my latte with almond milk (because they didn't have skim milk) a group came in that created a wait for Holly.  It was National Coffee Day and everyone got 15% off their order.  Nina and I sat outside on the one outdoor table with chairs; Holly leaned against the building.  I had never had almond milk before and the latte was quite tasty.  The coffeeshop also has free wifi for its customers, which I took advantage of.  From the coffee shop, the Trestle Trail Recreation area parking lot was only .4 mile away.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-mexico/mexican-canyon-trestle?ref=sidebar-static-map

The parking lot for the Trestle trail was near full.  Some people had already finished the trail and were enjoying a picnic lunch.  We stopped at the replica railroad depot to read the historical signs and use the restrooms and then we were on our way via T5001B.  Zeke was on his leash as we passed other hikers, many with young children and dogs. Two viewpoints come up early in this hike with views of the White Sands, but the rest of the trail is heavily shaded.

The original trestle trail was wide and level, but part of it was on private properly.  A switchback trail now diverts around that private property and creates the one steep descent/ascent of this rail.  Alltrails rates this trail as easy, but this switchback will create some ankle issues for children and elderly hikers.

Both Nina and Holly enjoyed the view from the trestle, which looks like it was restored.  Climbing on it is forbidden.  The trail ends here with a viewpoint of the trestle and Mexican Canyon.  (There  is also a viewpoint off US82)  We returned the way we came, diverting only to explore the "S" trestle that's also on the trail but which I didn't explore two months ago.  The "S" trestle collapsed and is now in ruins, but one can still get a good idea of what it once looked like.   This trail comes out to the main parking area from the east side, proving views of the ridge we had hiked on yesterday.  We added .4 miles returning via this route.  We rested at a picnic table in the parking area and ate our snacks and had water before hiking the Osha trail a half-mile away on US82.